Yuk Soyeon did not know who stood behind Yeop Hyeon. However, he was someone who had killed an elder and a pavilion master of Chwiseonru and still survived unharmed!
Yeop Hyeon looked Mal Sucheong over carefully. At a glance, she appeared proud and clearly someone with extremely high standards. He had no desire to approach her only to suffer needless humiliation.
To Yeop Hyeon, the most important thing in being with someone was mutual feelings and compatible character. He did not believe that love formed through talent or power was real love. If someone claimed to love you when you had money but would not even spare you a glance once you lost it, how could that be called love?
Soon, the banquet began. The Yeop siblings and the Yuk father and son sat at the same table. The table was filled with all kinds of rare delicacies.
Yeop Hyeon, Yeop Ryeong, and Yuk Myeong began devouring the food voraciously. The Yeop siblings had grown up enduring hardship and had never even tasted such luxurious dishes. As for Yuk Myeong, he simply loved to eat.
While others exchanged pleasantries and offered drinks, the only sounds coming from Yeop Hyeon's table were those of eating.
Seeing this, Yuk Soyeon could only smile bitterly. His son Yuk Myeong did not know how to flatter or socialize, and if he did not offend others, that was already fortunate.
Yuk Soyeon knew that Yeop Hyeon had high standards and would not befriend just anyone. However, whenever Yeop Hyeon introduced himself as a Sansu muin (independent wandering martial cultivator), people would simply excuse themselves and leave.
Yeop Hyeon himself was equally bewildered.
Since when did people ask about one's family background before even deciding whether to befriend someone?
After a while, Yuk Soyeon spotted someone and stood up. "Please continue eating here. I will go greet some acquaintances."
Yeop Hyeon and Yuk Myeong were too busy eating to even respond. Only Yeop Ryeong, with her mouth full, gave Yuk Soyeon a slight nod.
Yeop Ryeong handed Yeop Hyeon a large chicken drumstick. "Oppa, eat more. You need to replenish your strength."
Then she put vegetables into Yuk Myeong's bowl. "Fatty, you need to lose weight, so eat more vegetables."
Looking at the vegetables in his bowl, Yuk Myeong stared at Yeop Ryeong resentfully. "Isn't that a bit too much favoritism?"
Yeop Ryeong giggled and added more pork to Yeop Hyeon's bowl. "Oppa, this one is really tender and delicious."
Yuk Myeong was speechless. "Hmph! When we get home, I'm going to ask Mother to give me a younger sister too. No, two of them!"
The Yeop siblings looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, beside Mal Sucheong sat another woman with her face covered by a thin veil. She was Han Hyangmong, who had just arrived. While chatting with Mal Sucheong, Han Hyangmong kept glancing sideways at Yeop Hyeon in the distance. She had not expected him to attend the banquet.
Seeing Han Hyangmong constantly looking elsewhere, Mal Sucheong followed her gaze to Yeop Hyeon.
"Hyangmong, do you know him?"
When Han Hyangmong nodded, Mal Sucheong smiled. "If he's someone who caught your interest, then he must not be ordinary. Tell me, which family is he from?"
"I've only spoken with him once or twice. I don't know him well."
Mal Sucheong's lips curved like a fox's. "You don't know him well, yet you keep staring? You're interested, aren't you? Let's see... his face is decent, and his eyes aren't bad either."
Han Hyangmong shook her head. "Don't jump to conclusions. We've only crossed paths a couple of times. I'm just surprised he's here."
Mal Sucheong looked around and smiled. "Isn't that obvious? This place is filled with talents from every city in Gang Nation. He must have come to build connections. These days, strength alone isn't enough. Connections matter too. Don't you agree?"
"Have you seen him talking with anyone?"
Mal Sucheong paused thoughtfully and looked at Yeop Hyeon again. After a moment, she said, "Now that you mention it, he does seem a bit unusual."
"That's enough. Stop talking. He has nothing to do with us."
"No, I'm getting curious now. Let's go talk to him."
When Mal Sucheong grabbed her arm, Han Hyangmong's expression changed. "Sucheong, don't! You mustn't provoke him!"
"Mustn't provoke him? That makes him even more suspicious. What happened between you two?"
Han Hyangmong was about to speak when Mal Sucheong cut her off. "Forget it. I'm too curious now. Let's go."
She dragged Han Hyangmong over and stopped in front of Yeop Hyeon.
As if tracking her every move, the gazes of the surrounding men naturally shifted to Yeop Hyeon.
Who is he?
People began to wonder about his identity. After all, how many men in this world could attract Mal Sucheong's attention?
"Is anyone sitting here? If not, we'd like to sit."
Yeop Hyeon looked up at the two women before him and immediately recognized Han Hyangmong.
What is she planning?
Before he could respond, Mal Sucheong pulled Han Hyangmong down to sit and took a seat beside her. Staring directly at Yeop Hyeon, she asked, "May I ask your honored name, Young Master? Which noble family do you belong to?"
Yeop Hyeon set down his chopsticks and performed a pogwon (fist salute). "Yeop Hyeon. A Sansu muin (independent wandering martial cultivator)."
A Sansu muin (independent wandering martial cultivator)?
Mal Sucheong's eyes filled with curiosity. "Just an ordinary wandering cultivator?"
"Just that."
"Haha. A mere Sansu muin (independent wandering martial cultivator) shouldn't even qualify to be here."
"I only followed City Lord Yuk of Tianshan Castle to get a free meal."
Here for a free meal?
The entire hall burst into laughter.
Mal Sucheong laughed as well. "This is the first time I've heard someone say they came here just to eat."
After a moment of silence, Yeop Hyeon said, "Miss Mal, if there is nothing else, please leave."
Drawing so much attention was not good for him. He did not wish to make enemies without reason.
"I only wanted to chat. Is that not allowed? Or do I not even qualify to sit with you in Young Master Yeop's eyes?"
The corner of her lips curled upward.
At once, the expressions of the surrounding men darkened. One of them approached and stared coldly at Yeop Hyeon. "Miss Mal, what kind of person is this, to dare sit at the same table as you?"
Bang!
Suddenly, Yuk Myeong slammed his palm on the table and shouted angrily, "What kind of stray dog are you to speak to my Big Brother like that?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "Are you courting death?"
Just as Yuk Myeong was about to retaliate, Yeop Hyeon pulled him back and looked at Mal Sucheong. "Miss Mal, have I offended you in any way? Or why are you letting others stir up hostility toward me?"
Mal Sucheong blinked innocently. "Stir up hostility? I'm truly wronged."
She sighed softly. "I only spoke because I felt you were not ordinary, Young Master, yet you misunderstand me so. It seems you dislike forming ties with me."
"Miss Mal, do you not realize that because of your words, I'm about to be dragged into gossip?"
She smiled faintly. "That would be your problem, wouldn't it?"
It was clear she had come to pick a fight. Yeop Hyeon pulled Yeop Ryeong and Yuk Myeong up. "Let's go."
Yeop Ryeong obediently nodded, then quickly grabbed an apple from the table and stuffed it into her pocket.
As the three prepared to leave, Mal Sucheong's gaze turned cold. "Young Master Yeop, how rude. Do you dislike even exchanging words with me?"
The man beside her laughed. "Miss Mal, is someone like him worth your effort?"
Then he looked at Yeop Ryeong mockingly. "Not only did you come here for a free meal, you won't even leave empty-handed. Well, vulgar people behave vulgarly."
Hearing this, Yeop Ryeong's face turned pale. She hurriedly placed the apple back on the table.
Han Hyangmong's face also turned pale.
After all, everything that had happened on the Woonseon had begun because of Yeop Hyeon's sister.
Her ominous premonition proved correct. Yeop Hyeon's figure blurred and instantly appeared before the man. Before the man could react, Yeop Hyeon's fist smashed into his mouth.
Bang!
The man was sent flying several zhang backward, teeth and blood spraying from his mouth.
The expressions of those watching changed instantly.
He actually struck someone here!
Mal Sucheong had not expected him to act. She looked at him coldly. "I have never seen someone as lacking in patience as you."
Yeop Hyeon withdrew his fist and stepped toward her. "I hate women like you who rely only on their looks, who look down on others, who do not know how to show respect, and who only know how to use the men around them. Is it amusing to watch them live and die at your every word? Even if a woman like you were lying naked before me, I wouldn't spare you a single glance. Stop bothering me."
After speaking, Yeop Hyeon picked up the apple from the table and turned away with Yeop Ryeong and Yuk Myeong.
The banquet hall fell into sudden silence.
No one had ever humiliated Mal Sucheong like this in front of so many people.
Was she not the woman every man in the Imperial Castle desired?
Suddenly, Mal Sucheong slammed her palm onto the table.
Bang!
The table shattered into powder.
At the same time, her figure flashed and instantly appeared before Yeop Hyeon. Though her lips were smiling, her eyes were filled with killing intent.
"Repeat what you just said."
Yeop Hyeon did not retreat. He stepped forward instead, closing the distance until they could feel each other's breath.
"I hate women like you who rely on their looks to belittle others, who do not know respect, and who only know how to use the men around them. Is it amusing to watch them live and die at your every word? Even if a woman like you were lying naked before me, I would not spare you a single glance."